SASKATOON – The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has banned Nathan Lee Chasing Horse and Cecil Wolfe from all FSIN community events, spiritual practices, pow wows and ceremonies for life after they were charged with sex crimes.
According to U. S. authorities, 46-year-old Horse, a former “Dances With Wolves” actor is accused of sexually abusing Indigenous girls and leading a cult. Horse, is charged with sex crimes spanning two decades. In 2018, British Columbia RCMP contacted U.S. authorities after he was named as a suspect in an investigation involving a victim from B. C. Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service officials in the U.S. are encouraging any victims of Chasing Horse in Canada or the United States to come forward.
Police say 60-year-old Cecile Wolfe misrepresented himself as a Cree medicine man to gain access to victims in Saskatchewan and now faces 12 counts of sexual assault in Saskatoon Provincial Court.
“Our hearts go out to the victims of these horrendous crimes,” said FSIN Third Vice Chief Aly Bear.
“Sex crimes that damage the body, mind and spirit of our First Nations people are something we strongly condemn. It is especially disturbing when people of power and influence prey on our women and girls, whom we as First Nations people hold in a place of utmost respect.”
According to the Associated Press, Horse was arrested Tuesday at his Las Vegas, Nevada, home he shares with his five wives. Horse is believed to be the leader of a cult known as The Circle whose followers believed he could communicate with higher powers.
Horse trained his wives to use firearms, instructing them to “shoot it out” with police officers if they tried to “break their family apart.” If that failed, he told his wives to take “suicide pills,” reported the Associated Press.
Wolfe, 60, is charged with sexual assault against numerous victims while acting as a healer. Police believe there could be more victims from the last 20 years in Blaine Lake, Loon Lake, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatoon and surrounding areas.
“We are disheartened that sexual assaults and human trafficking are occurring today in our communities," said FSIN Fourth Vice Chief Heather Bear. "We must all take a stand to speak out against abuse and support the victims.”
FSIN says that sexual misconduct, abuse and assault have no place in society.
In July 2015, The Journal, a Tribal publication in the United States, posted a photo of Horse on Facebook saying that Fort Peck tribal leaders voted 7 to 0 to ban Horse, a "spiritual leader" from the Fort Peck Reservation alleging he was a safety threat. One Fort Peck tribal councillor said, "The federal government fell asleep on this but I’m not. Will I protect our people from that? In a heartbeat."
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